Sunday, April 29, 2012

As random as it sounds; I love vintage milk bottles. For a while now, I've actually considered buying a couple. I love the image of milk in vintage bottles as it actually makes me very grateful for milk. A beautiful and healthy liquid that I think many of us take for granted. Although I have many favorite beverages; (Thai Iced Tea, Horchata, Tea, Lattes..) the ones I drink the most are water and milk.

As I was searching for images, I found the below. This is a photography piece is by Paper Sky Photography.

According to the Miami Herald, this is how the story goes: Earlier this month, a 47 year old prostitute was approached by an undercover detective. She asked for two double cheeseburgers off the Mc Donald's dollar menu.

The detective took her into his car and told her he would also tip her $40. The detective drove to a vacant lot and then arrested her for prostitution.

It may seem odd for some of you, that an anti-pornography feminist as myself, would be in favor of decriminalizing prostitution. Wanting to decriminalizing prostitution does not mean that I am an advocate of prostitution. Sex trafficking, sex slavery, child prostitution, and plain ol' (not so plain actually) street walkin' in the US. All of it is dangerous or certainly has the potential for harm.

Some sex workers actually love what they do. I do have my opinions about that. The sex industry need not be void of criticism even when participants are happily willing.

In addition, it is important to acknowledge that there are many sex workers who are suffering. There are many who are in the game and want out. If a woman simply wants two cheeseburgers (and isn't asking for money), she is obviously in a state of desperation.

Prostitution is not only physically dangerous but it can affect a person's psyche. A person's self worth, a person's ability to trust and feel emotionally safe, is in jeopardy. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

I do not shame women who involve themselves in prostitution but I do take issue with the sex industry. The sex industry is misogynistic and perpetuates patriarchy. That being said, I very much advocate for health and safety resources for sex workers.

If the goal is to end prostitution; criminalizing them is not the solution. If the goal is to simply allow a woman to choose her own path; criminalizing isn't going to benefit her either. I can shout from the rooftops that I disagree with prostitution, but sticking a woman in jail isn't necessarily a deterrent. It also violates her free will. And yes, I believe that a woman's free choice to enter the sex industry is influenced by patriarchy; but that makes little difference. You can't necessarily change a woman's desire through criminalization.

Can you believe that these are DRAWINGS? These images come from the talented hands of Paul Cadden. Cadden often uses graphite and white chalk to create these images. Visit the official website to view more.

According to Lime Life, many of Starbuck's drinks consist of red food coloring made from crushed up cochnieals. In other words, beetles. These small bugs are found in Latin America. Why didn't we find out about this now? An anonymous vegan barista spilled the coffee beans (sorry, I couldn't resist).

As of now there is a petition that was offered on Change.org to stop this process. Now Starbucks has announced that these items will be removed from the menu at the end of June. According to The Frisky, the beetle extract will be lycopene, which is derived from tomatoes.

I am not bothered by the fact that I had beetles in my food. Even so, I'm sure there are plenty who are disgusted at the idea. I agree that the ingredient of crushed conchneils should have been made public knowledge.

Do they misunderstand or do they not care? Are they transphobic or -- do they not care? These are the questions that filled my head as I sat at the table.

A transgender patient on a psych ward; MTF. I started off referring to her as "she". The others followed. The next day a doctor began referring to her as "he". It was a game of follow the leader.

Doctors; even psychiatric doctors; must think about a person's anatomy when treating a patient. It might be easier to think of a trans person as their biological gender when assessing what needs tending to medically. So, what's an MD to do? Practice patience with yourself and understand that it's not about convenience but about respect.

Is it easy for a girl with a lil' ol' masters degree to say this? I don't have "MD" tacked on to the end of my name and I don't claim to understand what goes on inside of a calculating doctor; but we need to make space for transgender individuals. Straight folks take up a lot of room. I am now exposed to another arena where transgenderism is not fully embraced.

Finding resources for mentally ill transgender individuals is not easy either. Placing a transgender person in a hospital is all about the "plumbing" as one of my co-workers said. If you put an MTF person in a room with another female and the MTF individual has not had reassignment surgery, it might be allowed. If the person has a penis and is rooming with another female, then there is a liability issue.

There is a lack of support, a lack of brain storming, and a lack of sensitivity, when it comes to anyone who is not heterosexual. With the little power that I have in my work environment, I can at least give the respect that is deserved. If he is not "he", refer to she as "she".

I can't even begin to tell you how happy these make me. Just looking at this cloudy face fills me with joy. This cake pop was created by Madison, Wisconsin bakery Cupcakes-A-Go-Go, via their Facebook page.

In 1992; in Italy; an 18 year old girl was picked up by her 45 year old driving instructor a lesson. He drives to another location and rapes her. To do so he pulled down on leg of her jeans. He threatened to kill her if she disclosed what had happened to anyone.

The girl tells her parents and she presses charges. The rapist goes to jail.

Unfortunately he appeals the sentence and wins his case. The Chief Judge, he argued, “because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans it was no longer rape but consensual sex.”

Women in the Italian Parliament took action and protested by wearing jeans to work. The California Senate and Assembly decided to do this as well. Patricia Giggans, Executive Director of Peace Over Violence, assisted in creating Denim Day in Los Angeles. The first Denim Day in LA took place in April 1999.

Denim Day is about making a public statement; that rape is never okay. You can participate in the day by wearing denim with a Denim Day pin or t-shirt. Or, you can simply speak about the event of the young woman's rape and encourage others to educate themselves about the patriarchal system.

One in six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, there were 1,117 rapes during the year 2003, with only 260 rape suspects arrested.

82.8% of rapes committed by an intimate are not reported to the police.

35% of college men who voluntarily participated in psychological research conducted at several universities indicated they might commit a rape if they knew they could get away with it.

Two million children around the world are forced into prostitution every year.

Law enforcement arrests for internet sex crimes against minors are on the rise.

15,000 to 19,000 people with developmental disabilities are raped each year in North America.

Survivors deserve support and assistance, not shame and blame.

We want to build healthy relationships, families and communities free from sexual, domestic and interpersonal violence.

Help spread the word against patriarchy. Rape is NEVER okay, under any circumstances.

Los Angeles Rape & Battering Hotlines

The Los Angeles Rape and Battering hotline is a confidential non-judgmental support service where staff and volunteers are available to provide emotional support, advocacy, information and referrals. If you or someone you care about has been a victim of sexual assault, domestic violence or stalking, please call our 24 hour crisis line.213-626-3393 (Central Los Angeles)310-392-8381 (South Los Angeles)626-793-3385 (West San Gabriel Valley)

Sunday, April 22, 2012

To learn more visit the, National Committee on Pay Equity. Equal Pay Day was originated by NCPE in 1996. At that time women earned 73.8 cents for every dollar men earned. Women now earn 77.4 cents for every dollar men earn. That's not much progress in 16 years. Women have marked Equal Pay Day with a host of events. Some women wear red symbolize how women's are still in the red.

President Barack Obama is on board with National Pay Day; which is wonderful news. Read the President's proclamation below! Originally posted at the official White House website.

Also; on April 6, 2012, President Obama announced the release of the new report by the White House Council on Women and Girls, "Keeping America's Women Moving Forward," It details the progress the administration has made in the pursuit of economic equality.

Presidential Proclamation -- National Equal Pay Day, 2012

NATIONAL EQUAL PAY DAY, 2012
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

Working women power America's economy and sustain our middle class. For millions of families across our country, women's wages mean food on the table, decent medical care, and timely mortgage payments. Yet, in 2010 -- 47 years after President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act of 1963 -- women who worked full-time earned only 77 percent of what their male counterparts did. The pay gap was even greater for African American and Latina women, with African American women earning 64 cents and Latina women earning 56 cents for every dollar earned by a Caucasian man. National Equal Pay Day represents the date in the current year through which women must work to match what men earned in the previous year, reminding us that we must keep striving for an America where everyone gets an equal day's pay for an equal day's work.

At a time when families across our country are struggling to make ends meet, ensuring a fair wage for all parents is more important than ever. Women are breadwinners in a growing number of families, and women's earnings play an increasingly important role in families' incomes. For them, fair pay is even more than a basic right -- it is an economic necessity.

That is why my Administration is committed to securing equal pay for equal work. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the first bill I signed as President, empowers women to recover wages lost to discrimination by extending the time period in which an employee can file a claim. In 2010, I was proud to create the National Equal Pay Task Force to identify and combat equal pay violations. The Task Force has helped women recover millions in lost wages, built collaborative training programs that educate employees about their rights and inform employers of their obligations, and facilitated an unprecedented level of inter-agency coordination to improve enforcement of equal pay laws.

Working women are at the heart of an America built to last. Equal pay will strengthen our families, grow our economy, and enable the best ideas and boldest innovations to flourish -- regardless of the innovator's gender. On National Equal Pay Day, let us resolve to become a Nation that values the contributions of our daughters as much as those of our sons, denies them no opportunity, and sets no limits on their dreams.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 17, 2012, as National Equal Pay Day. I call upon all Americans to recognize the full value of women's skills and their significant contributions to the labor force, acknowledge the injustice of wage discrimination, and join efforts to achieve equal pay.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.

Well, I'm a day late as life got in the way. But here I am raving about Record Store Day. April 21st marks the day that we pay special attention to the glory that is the independent music store.

Music stores are dying and it is sad to know this truth. There are some indie stores poking their heads in various areas but it's getting harder and harder to find them.

I live within Los Angeles, California and I am oh so happy to have an Amoeba Records Music Store in Hollywood
. For those of you who are unaware; Amoeba is a huge warehouse of a store which sells new and used music of all kinds. I often refer to it as "Heaven" or "Nirvana". It is that special. And in case you're wondering; Amoeba ALWAYS participates in RSD.

Record Store Day at Amoeba Records in Hollywood - April 21st, 2012

Amoeba Records in Hollywood celebrated the fifth Record Store Day with exclusive RSD releases, DJ sets, live t-shirt screening & more.
On this day many stores participate by booking artists to perform. Certain artists will release a special album just for RSD. To find out which stores are celebrating; you can visit the official Record Store Day website.

Some quotes posted on the website:

“I think it’s high time the mentors, big brothers, big sisters, parents, Guardians, and neighborhood ne’er do wells, start taking younger people That look up to them To a realrecord store and show them what an important part of life music really is. I trust no one who hasn’t time for music. What a shame to Leave a child, or worse, a generation orphaned from one of life’s great beauties. And to the record stores, artists, labels, dj’s, and journalists; we’re all in this together. Show respect for the tangible music that you’ve dedicated your careers and lives to, and help It from becoming nothing more than disposable digital data.” - Jack White

Independent record stores are aural cathedrals, havens for those who find music as much a spiritual endeavor as passing entertainment. Indie employees will go out of their way to help you find a rare or back-catalogued recording, commiserating over neglected artists & all-but-forgotten masterpieces. They offer discounts & suggest records they enjoy with genuine interest & enthusiasm. Indies embody mom&pop, individualist expression - they're in it for love, not to turn a huge profit or to bend popular taste to a uniform will. viva la indie!

- Nellie McKay

“I have watched independent record stores evaporate all over America and Europe. That's why I go into as many as I can and buy records whenever possible. If we lose the independent record store, we lose big. Every time you buy your records at one of these places, it's a blow to the empire.”

- Henry Rollins

"Record stores keep the human social contact alive it brings people together. Without the independent record stores the community breaks down with everyone sitting in front of their computers"

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Remember the days when the aesthetic of vaginas didn't matter? Then somewhere along the way we started shaving, trimming and waxing pubic hair.

Porn stars underwent labiaplasties so that their vaginas looked "younger". They didn't stop there. Some how the idea of anal bleaching became popular.

Well now there's something else for us ladies to worry about. If your vagina is too brown, you may want to consider bleaching it.

Below is a commercial running in India that is getting some fair exposure in the US.

The ad is posted on the Clean and Dry youtube channel. The video description is as follows:

"Designed to address the problems women face in their private parts, Clean and Dry Intimate Wash offers protection, fairness and freshness. To be used while showering, its special pH-balanced formula cleans and protects the affected area, and even makes the skin fairer. Life for women will now be fresher, cleaner, fairer!

Freshness Jo Nikhare!"

In the video the man is unable to look at his female partner. The woman is upset and seemingly at a loss. Eventually she figures it out and leaps to into action. She showers with the bleaching product which miraculous makes her vulva a brighter shade. Now, her male partner is thrilled and can't wait to get near her vagina.

So not only are our vulva lips to large, but now they are too dark.

It is commonplace for a woman's vaginal lips to turn brown as one ages. It is natural. During arousal a woman's labia minora can be pink, red, and even purple. The flow of blood assists this change.

Why are we at the point where we need to modify the vagina so that it is no longer a vagina?

Ladies think about the first time you started shaving, trimming, snipping or waxing. Whatever the age, you can bet that girls of today are interested at an even young age.

I've never seen an ad for freshening up a man's nether regions and I have never seen a suggestion with the media for men to bleach their anuses.

I don't feel pressure to bleach my vagina. I don't believe that every man wants their female partner to do this to themselves. I do believe however, that there is a population of women and men who DO want this. That is what makes me feel deflated.

About Me

I believe story telling is an art form and blogging is a medium in which to share stories and ideas. Within this blog I hope to cover a spectrum of topics. From the serious to the silly. Here you will read my views and inquiries about subjects such as feminism, other various socio-political issues, psychology, spirituality, sexuality, and general interests such as film, art and music. You will also be exposed to my obsession with cupcakes, tea, books, Hello Kitty, and quirky day to day journeys. I enjoy learning from others as I am constantly attempting to introspect, grow and evolve. During this process I will be jotting down musings on this blog. Pull up a comfy chair and a spot of tea and join me!